"Oh God, I love you." She said, as she raised the sledgehammer she was holding and sent it- "Amber. Could you come down here for a minute?" Uncle Timothy called. I stood up from my chair, and turned the book down so the pages won't flip on their own. I made my way downstairs, and found Uncle in the pantry. "What is it, Uncle?" I asked. "Could you go into the kitchen and get me the basket I left by the sink?" He said. I nodded and went to the kitchen. I quickly saw the basket and grabbed it. I was surprised at its' contents. It was a piece of apple cake along with a bottle of champagne. There was a note attached to the handle of the basket. Out of curiosity, I read it. "Winston's 20th Birthday." "Hey, what are you doing?" Uncle Timothy asked, coming into the room. I took the basket and held it in my arms. "What's this for, Uncle?" I asked. "Oh, that? It's Winston Havery's 20th birthday today. His family is throwing him a birthday party at the town square. Everyone who was given that basket is invited." Uncle said, scratching his ear. "Do-" He tried to say, but decided against it.I gave a short scoff and followed Uncle back into the pantry.
As I went back up to my room, I was thinking about the invitation. I'm pretty sure, Uncle was trying to tell me to go to the party. I sighed. Even though Uncle knew how I felt about such things, he still had the urge to try. Although Uncle was the onIy person who seemed to understand me, it's obvious that he pities me for the condition that I have left myself in. I reached my room and dumped myself on my bed. I got a pillow and hugged it tightly. I know I have my Uncle, and even my cousins, who sometimes go too far when teasing me. But sometimes, if I'm honest with myself, it really feels like, I'm all alone. Moaning like a dog, I rolled to my side and dozed off to sleep, trying to clear my head of the negative thoughts.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
My peaceful nap, didn't last long. I began to wake up about a few hours later, after hearing chattering in my room. I tried to ignore it, but it was getting louder. I half-opened my eye, and noticed a silhouette, sitting at the side of my bed. "Hey, I think she's waking up." That sounds like Cassidy. I opened my eye fully, and indeed, Cassidy and her sisters were in my room. "What is going on?" I grumbled. Cassidy and her sisters all looked at me, with knowing grins on their faces. "What are you three doing here?" I asked grumpily, rubbing my eyes. "Nothing much. Just getting ready for Winston's birthday party." Kimberly said. "Then do it in your own rooms. I'm trying to sleep." I said firmly. Cassidy and her sisters, however, did not move an inch. And if I looked closer, their grins grew wider. "The girls and I have been deciding, Amber. And we think it's time for you to experience your first outing." Cassidy said. I scoffed at her. "Yeah, right. Like that's gonn- Oow!!" I yelled, after feeling my left arm yank hard.
The pressure of the feat, caused me to sit up. I looked to my left arm, and saw an electric-powered shackle, tied around it, and the end of the chain, was in Cassidy's hands. "You are coming with us to the party." Cassidy said. She was smiling, but the tone in her voice denied her looks. "You can't be serious." I said. "Well, we've already fixed your hair for you, and changed your dress, while you were asleep. So I guess we are." Cassidy said. My reaction went from mild annoyance, to pure horror. Dominique probably sensed what I felt, because then, she spoke up: "Cassidy, I think we're going a bit too far." Cassidy shrugged her off. "Come on, Amber." Cassidy insisted, pulling me harder. "No!" I screamed, resisting the force. But Kimberly helped, and the two of them managed to pull me to my feet. "No, stop it! I won't go! Stop!!" I screamed. The shackle tightened around my arm, making it lose its' circulation. "Uncle!" I called. "Dad's not here." Cassidy whispered.
After grappling in my room, Cassidy and Kimberly managed to get ahold of my arms, and were now taking me down the stairs. "Stop it! Let me go!" I protested, trying to wiggle out of their grasp, but to no avail. "Come on, Amber. It'll be fun." Cassidy guffawed. There was something wrong with her. Cassidy was always up to crazy antics, but this was different. Dominique came rushing after us, and took hold the end of the shackles, that kept me captive of them. I stopped screaming when we reached the door, and they opened it. Now I was shaking horribly, feeling my whole body go weak. "Don't worry Amber. We'll hold onto you, so you don't get lost." Cassidy said. I hyperventilated, which was probably the only thing I could do, as they forced me out of the house... God, help me..
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
When we got to the open, and were nearing the town square, I had stopped protesting. Now that we were out here, Cassidy and her sisters, were the only people I could cling to for security. Even if they are the ones who got me here in the first place. "See, Amber. We're finally here. So far so good." Cassidy said triumphantly. My mouth trembled as I gulped. I looked around the square. There were so many people. So many, it made me dizzy. Most of the people were men. Men! A certain black-haired boy, waved to us, and Cassidy and Kimberly both let me go. I stayed at my spot, too horrified to even move. I had no idea what to do. Then a comforting hand, laid itself on my shoulder. I looked to my left, and saw Dominique. "Here." She said, handing me the end of the shackles. "I'll take you home, while Cassidy and Kimberly are still busy flirting." She said. I looked at her intently and smiled.
We both turned back, and walked on. She made way, so that the I wouldn't have to collide with the people around us. "Th-thank you, D-Dominique." I stammered weakly. She was just about to answer me, when suddenly the crowd was closing in. The people were all moving at once and smashing against each other. I stumbled forward, and in an instant, Dominique's hand flew off from my shoulder, and she was pushed back into the crowd. Away from me. "Dominique!" I yelled. I was now outside the crowd, but there was no sight of Dominique. "Dominique." I whispered to myself. I backed up to a tree, my hands pressed against my chest, as my heart pumped 10 times faster than its' normal rate. What do I do? What do I do? "Excuse me?" I gasped in alarm, and glanced both ways. My sight stopped ahead of me, only to find a guy. "Are you all right, ma'am?" He asked.
I backed up more, unconsciously, only to be stopped by the tree behind me. "Wh-what do you want?" I asked nervously. He smirked which unnerved me. "I just wanted to get away from that crowd. They kept on greeting me: 'Happy Birthday' over and over." He said. Oh. He must be Winston. "Have I seen you before?" He asked. I didn't answer, which made him walk closer to me. Please stay away from me. "I believe, I've never seen you before." He added. "N-no.." I said. He looked me up and down, and it disgusted me. "You look rather peculiar. That hair is very unusual.." Now he was reaching a hand out to me. Oh no. Please stay away. Stay away. Stay away! "May I?" He asked, although, without my permission, he still kept reaching.
I never managed to finish my list that proved I was a neurotic freak. First was my appearance, and second was my personality. But I never managed to tell you the third reason. I never went out the house because of this very third reason. And as Winston held, even a small strand of my hair, my instincts took over me. "DON'T TOUCH ME!!" It all happened so fast, I didn't even know what I did. All I know was that the crowd stopped chattering and were now looking to me. I panted as I looked down to Winston. "Amber!" Cassidy called, as she Dominique and Kimberly ran towards me. "Oh my God!" Kimberly exclaimed. "What the hell have you done, Amber?!" Cassidy enraged, looking down at Winston, whose face was rather bloody. The third reason was I have fear for certain things. Males were one of them. "Don't friggin' touch me." I whispered beneath my breath.
TO BE CONTINUED
----Author's Note----
Forgot to mention, and because I remembered it only now, the line from the book which Amber is reading. The line is from the book Misery by Stephen King. I haven't read it completely yet, but it's a very good story. Sorry for this small rant, but had to do it. Carry on readers..
YOU ARE READING
A•N•D•R•O•P•H•O•B•I•A
Science Fiction(WARNING: CONTAINS STRONG VIOLENCE. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU CAN HANDLE DETAILED KILLS) Fear. What a word. One could have so many ideas on just this one word. And even if you write it all down, on a piece of paper, you'll never run out of ideas. It's...
